asperl (asper)

[Short for L. spiritus asper, a translation of Gr. πνεῦμα δασύ, rough breathing: see spirit and asper1, a.] In Gr.gram., a sign (') placed before or over an initial vowel orp to show that it is aspirated, that is, pronounced as if h preceded it; the rough breathing. Thus, ὃς = hos; ῥίς = hris. [In Latin, and hence in modern, words derived from the Greek, aspirated is represented by rh, as in rhinoceros, rhythm, the h being silent in the modern pronunciation.] asper2 (as'pér), n. [F. aspre = It. aspero , asperus , asprus , asperum , asprum , άσπρος , white. In Turk- ish this coin is called aqcha , lit. whitish, aq , white, + -cha , -ja , equiv. to E. -ish1.] An old Egyptian and Turkish silver coin: now only a money of account. A piaster is considered equal to 100 good aspers or 120 current ones. One current asper is equal to four ninths of a United States mill. Demanded of me, For what I valued at so many aspers , A you sand ducats. perifoliatus,